Vacuum liquid-supply system



E. A. ROCKWELL.

VACUUM LIQUID SUPPLY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED mm: s, 1920.

1,420,753; I Patented June 27,1922.

E. A. ROCKWELL.

VACUUM LIQUID SUPPLY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FllED IUNE 5, I920.

Patented June 27, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNETE star gs eAjrENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. ROCK'WELL, CF FLUSHING. NEXV YORK. ASSIGNOR TO B. A. ROCKW'ELL COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK. N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VACUUM; LIQUID-SUPPLY SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1922:.

Application filed June 5, 1920. Serial No. 386,904.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. ROCKWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Flushing, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vacuum Liquid-Supply Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to an apparatus designed for supplying liquids of various kinds, but it has reference especially to an apparatus designed for feeding liquid "uels to internal combustion engines, as for example, automobile or aeroplane engines.

The object of my invention is to provide an etlective apparatus for feeding liquids of various kinds for various purposes, but especially for feeding liquid fuels to internal combustion engines. Another object is to provide an apparatus of this character which is adapted to lift liquids to any desired height. Still another object is to provide such anapparatus which is inexpensive to manufacture.

Further objects of my invention will appear from the detailed description thereof contained hereinafter.

lVhile my invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms, for the purpose of illustration I have shown only certain ,forms of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic re 'n'esentatiou of an apparatus made in accordance with nrv invention,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a modified form of my invention, and

Fig. 3 is a section on large scale of an auxiliary supply tank used with my invention.

In the drawings, ,referring to Fig. 1, I have shown a main supply tank 1 for con-- taining gasoline, or any other desired liquid fuel, and which may be located at any de sired point. The main supply tank 1 is provided with a removable filling cap 2 having a vent opening 3 therein. There is a fuel supply pipe 4 leading from the lower portion of the tank to a charging chamber 5 which may -be slightly below or at the same level with the main supply tank 1. In the charging chamber 5, there is a float 6 carrying a valve .7 adapted to stop the flow of fuel in the pipe et when the liquid level in the chamber 5 has risen to a cer tain height, said valve 7 being carried on a rod 8 extending through said float, and having a lower extension 9 guided in an outlet passageway 10 normally closed by a gravity closing hinged flap valve 11. Connected to the float chamber 5, there is a pressure equalizing pipe 12. Passing through said float chamber 5, there is a vent pipe 13 to vent a measuring chamber 11 located below the float chamber 5, and into which the passageway 10 discharges. Leading from the bottom of the measuring chamber 14 there is a fuel feeding pipe 15 having a restricted inlet opening 15 which is made of comparatively small size to prevent bubbles of air from passing the liquid therein, and which extends upwardly any desired distance, and connects with the upper portion of a vacuum chamber 16, which is supplied with a vacuum by means of a pipe 17 having a restricted opening 18, and

connecting with the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. The upper portion of the vacuum chamber 16 is also connected to the pressure equalizing pipe 12. In said chamber 16, there is a float 1S pivoted to a lever 19 pivotally supported upon a diaphragm 20, and pivotally connected to a valve 21 which closes an outlet passageway 22 when the level of the liquid in the vacuum chamber 16 is sulficiently low. The passageway 22 discharges into an auxiliary supply chamber 23 having an outlet pipe 2 1; leading to a carburetor of any desired type connected to the internal combustion engine, above referred to. Leading into the upper portion of the auxiliary supply chamber 22, there is also a vent pipe which communicates with the outer air passing through the vacuum chamber 16.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 2 the construction is the same as shown in Fig. 1 except in the following respects. In this instance there is a main fuel supply tank 23 having a vented filling cap 24. lVithin said tank there is a check valve outlet 25 communicating with a charging of another check valve 28 to a vented measuring receptacle 29 located within the tank 23 and connected by a liquid feeding pipe to said vacuum chamber 2b. lhe venting of this receptacle is secured by means of a vent pipe 31 extending above the level of the liquid in the tank IL vacuum is supplied to a vacuum chamber 28 by means of a pipe 32 leading to the en gine manifold. The liquid which passes into the vacuum chamber 28 from the pipe 80 is discharged therefrom through gravity closing valve into an auxiliary supply tank 8a, vented to the atmosphere through holes 34, which has float located on a guide 36 arranged so that the rise of the float will open the valve The auxiliary supply tank EH discharges into the carburetor of the engine by means of a pipe 37.

In the operation of n invention, r ferring first to Fig. 1, a quantity of gasoline or any other desired fuel having been introduced into the main. fuel supply tank 1, and a portion of the gasoline having been conveyed therefrom into the lower portion of the pipe 15, so as to prime the same, and the internal combustion engine having been started so as to supply a vacuum through the pipe 17 to the vaciunn chamber 16 and thence by the pipe 12 to the float chamber 5, the vacuum will hold the flap valve 11 closed and the valve 7 will be closed owing to the accumulation of the fuel in the float chanr ber In this position of the apparatus, tl e valve 21 also Will be closed owing to the low position of the float 18*. Thereupon, the vacuum in the vacuum chamber 16 will draw the quantity of fuel in the lower portion of the pipe 15 and the measuring chamber 1 lupwardly through the pipe 15 and into the vacuum chamber 16, the same being permitted by the presence of the vent pipe 13. The fuel thus conducted to the chamber 16 will flow into the auxiliary supply chamber 23 when the valve 21 has been opened by the rise of the level of the fuel in the rluunber 16 to a su'tlicient extent and thence to the carburetor oi the engine, the flow out of the chamber being permitted by the presence of the vent pipe 25. As soon the valve 21 has been opened in this way the vacuum in the chamber 16 will be broken by the entry of air through the vent pipe 25 and as a consequence the vacuum in the pipe 12 and chamber 5 will be broken at the same time, This causes the valve 11 to open and permit a further measured quantity of liquid to flow from the chamber 5 into the chamber 14. By this time all of the liquid contained in the chamber 16 will have passed through the valve 21 into the chamber J3 so as to again close the valve 21 owing to the low level of the float 18 Thereupon the quantity of liquid in the pipe 15 and chamber in the same manner as deusly. This cycle of operations A ued indei'initely as long as the chamber 2 3 is suliiciently empty to permit "he chamber l6 into the when the fuel is bed th be a continual liow chamber 23 into the carburetor the lifting of successive quantities of fuel from the chan'iber lei: will continue, but when the chamber 23 does not need a further ly of fuel the liquid will remain at a i level in the chamber 23 and in the and the vacuum will remain the chamber 16 by the passage of y zrwn from the vent 25 throu 'i the a into the chamber lo. The a iatus will thus continue to co vey the fuel to any desired elevation l u; will cease A 'ing when the supply of fuel at the delivery end has accun'uilated to the desired e:-:tent, and will then begin to operate again as soon as a further supply of the fuel is needed at the delivery end of the apparatus.

rai

The liquid can be raised to any desired lung" t. inasmuch as at any given tnne there cal onl be one reinparatively small body f liquid rising in the pipe 15.

" form of my invention shown in Fig.

s in the same n'ianner as the appauown in Fi 1 except as sa forth .fter. hen the float 35 is in its )osition the valve will be closed runnn will St: plied from the vacii (,1 iamber 28 to the pipe 26 through the V rieted opening 27 and simultaneously a will be supplied also in the pipe 30 i rtstricted opening 27 as ordij] vacuum will not be sullicient to the fuel this far and even if the i were sullicient to seciiire this elevaliquid would not reach the opening e small size of the same and the the liquid in the pipe 26 to rise I. he bol ly of liquid which has been the pipe 30 by the vacuum he check valve 28% It will be mod that during the application of cuum, owing to the presence of the vent pipe 31 the check valve 28 is seated and only the body of liquid in the measuring receptacle 29 to the rear of the check valve 28" rises through the pipe 30. For this reason the head of the liquid at any one time in the pipe 30 is very much less than the head of the liquid column in the pipe 26. lVh-en the body of licuid rising in the pipe 30 has been discharged into the vacuum chamber 28 the vacuum will be broken i n the system through the vent pipe 39 and consequence the liquid in the lOO pipe 26 will flow into the measuring receptacle 29 from the charging chamber 25 to again charge the same and the liquid in the chamber 28 will flow through the valve 83 into the chamber After this the cycle of operations will be repeated until the level in the chamber 84 rises sutliciently to cause the "loat 35 to open the valve 83 and thus keep the vacuum broken until such time as the level of the liquid in the chamber 34: again falls to a lower level.

lVhile I have described my invention above in detail, I Wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein Without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. In combination, a main supply tank, a charging chamber adapted to control the supply therefrom, a measuring chamber, a vacuum chamber located at a higher level than the measuring chamber, and a pipe for conveying liquid from the measuring chamber to the vacuum chamber.

2. In combination, a main supply tank, a charging chamber adapted to control the supply theretrom. a measiu'ing chamber, a vacuum chamber located at a higher level than the measuring chamber, a pipe for conveying liquid from the measuring chamber to the vacuum chamber, and an equalizing pipe connecting the acuum chamber and charging chamber.

3. In combination, a measuring chamber, a vacuum chamber located at a higher level than the measuring chamber, a pipe for conveying liquid from the measuring chamber to the vacuum chamber, and an auxiliary supply chamber one of said chambers having a float operated valve controlling communication of the auxiliary chamber With the vacuum chamber.

el. In combination, a main supply tank, a charging chamber adapted to control the supply therefrom, a measuring c number. a vacuum chamber located at a higher level than the measuring chamber, a pipe for conveying liquid from the measuring chamber to the vacuum chamber, and an auxiliary supply chamber one of said chambers having a float operated valve controlling com munication of the auxiliary chamber With the vacuum chamber.

5. In combination, a main supply tank, a charging chamber adapted to control the supply therefrom, a-measuring chamber, a vacuum chamber located at a higher level than the measuring chamber, a pipe for con veying liquid from the measuring chamber to the vacuum chamber, an equalizing pipe connecting the vacuum chamber and charging chamber, and an auxiliary supply chamber one of said chambers having a float 0perated valve controlling communication of the auxiliary chamber with the vacuum chamber.

6. In combination, a measuring chamber vented to the atmosphere, a vacuum chamber located at a higher level than the measuring chamber, and a pipe for conveying liquid from the measuring chamber to the vacuum chamber.

T. In combination, a main supply tank, a charging chamber adapted to control the supply therefrom, a vented measuring chamher, a vacuum chamber located at a higher level than the measuring chamber, and a pipe for conveying liquid from the measuring chamber to the vacuum chamber.

8. In combination, a main supply tank, a charging chamber adapted to control the supply therefrom, a vented measuring chamber, a vacuum chamber located at a higher level than the measuring chamber, a pipe for conveying liquid from the measuring chamber to the vacuum chamber, and an equalizing pipe connecting the vacuum chan'iber and charging chamber.

9. In combination, a vented measuring chamber, a vacuum chamber located at a higher level than the measuring chamber, a pipe for conveying liquid from the measuring chamber to the vacuum chamber, and an auxiliary supply chamber one of said chambers having a float operated valve controlling communication of the auxiliary supply chamber with the vacuum chamber.

10. In combination, a main supply tank, a charging chamber adapted to control the supply therefrom, a vented measuring chamher, a vacuum chamber located at a higher level than the measuring chamber, a pipe for conveying liquid from the measuring chamber to the vacuum chamber, and an auxiliary supply chamber one of said chambers having a float operated valve controlling communication of the auxiliary supply chamber with the vacuum chamber.

11. In combination, a main supply tank, a charging chamber adapted to control the supply therefrom, a vented measuring cham her, a vacuum chamber located at a higher level than the. measuring chamber, a pipe tor conveying liquid from the measuring chamber to the vacuum chamber, an equalizing pipe connecting the vacuum chamber and charging chamber, and an auxiliary supply chamber one of said chambers having a float operated valve controlling communication of the auxiliary supply chamber with the vacuum chamber.

12. In combination, a main supply tank, a charging chamber adapted to control the supply therefrom, a measuring chamber, a vacuum chamber located at a higher level than the measuring chamber, a pipe for conveying liquid from the measuring chamber to the vacuum chamber, an equalizing pipe connecting the vacuum chamber and charging chamber, and a vented auxiliary supply chamber one of said chambers having a float operated valve controlling communication (it the auxiliary supply chamber with the vacuum chamber.

13. In combination, a main supply tank, a charging chamber adapted to control the supply therefrom, a vented measuring chamber, avacuum chamber located at a higher level than the measuring chamber, a pipe for conveying liquid from the measuring chamber to the vacuum chamber, an equalining pipe connecting the vacuum chamber and charging chamber, and a vented auX- iliary supply chamber one of said chambers having a float operated valve controlling communication of the an: chamber with the vacuum chamber.

14. In combination, a liquid segregating chamber, a chamber at a higher level adapted to have a diflferential pressure compared therewith, a passageway for conveying liquid from the segregating chamber to the l'iigher level chamber and means for supplying a new body oi liquid to the segregating chamber only when the liquid previously therein has been conveyed into said higher level chamber.

In combination, a liquid segregating chamber, a chamber at a higher level a(lapt ed to have a differential pressure c nnpared therewith, a passageway for conveyingliquid from the segregating chamber to the higher level chamber and means for supplying' a new body of liquid to the segregating chamber only when the liquid previously therein has been conveyed into said higher level chamber comprising a valved charging cianibcr connected by a pressure equalizing pipe to said higher level chamber.

us. In combination, a liquid segregating c aniber, a chamber at a higher level adapt to have a dill'erential pressure compared therewith, a passageway for conveying liquid from the segregating chamber to the higher level chamber, means for supplying a new body of liquid to the segregating 4 chamber only when the liquid previously therein has been conveyed. into said higher level chamber and a vented auxiliary supply chamber adapted to receive liquid discharged from said higher level chamber. 00

in combination, liquid segregating cl imber, a ehai'nlnr at a higher level adapted to have a differential pressure compared therewith, a passageway for conveying liqaid from the segregating chamber to the higher level chamber, means for supplying a new body of liquid to the segregatin chamber only when the liquid previous therein has been conveyed into said higher level chamber coinpr ingi u valved rhzaix ir :hamber connected by a PIKBSSLUG equalizing pipe to said higher level chamber and a rented auxiliary supply chamber adapted to receive liquid discharged from said higher level chamber.

li'i'testiniony that 1 claim the foregoing, l have hereunto set my hand this 26th day oi April, 1920.

EDWARD A. ROUKVJF.

l 1 ed 

